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Benoit Paire plays in Hamburg despite confusion over his Covid-19 status

Benoit Paire complained of fatigue after retiring in Hamburg
Benoit Paire complained of fatigue after retiring in Hamburg

Benoit Paire retired during his first-round match at the Hamburg European Open and then revealed he had been allowed to play despite testing positive for Covid-19.

The Frenchman was barred from competing at the US Open after testing positive and required to quarantine.

Paire subsequently tested negative in Rome last week, only to test positive again in Hamburg, although his most recent test was negative again.

The tournament doctor told reporters that, under local rules, individuals are not considered infectious so long after initially testing positive and therefore Paire was allowed to compete.

Paire told reporters: "I was positive here in Hamburg since I arrived. The only negative test I got yesterday. Before that two in a row I was positive. But the rule seems different here. So thank you to the tournament and the doctor here in Hamburg that I can play.

"Every night I go to sleep and they tell me maybe you are positive, maybe you are negative, maybe you can play, maybe you can't. The only thing I want is to finish the season and to go home."

The rules are different for the French Open, where any positive test means immediate elimination from the event.

A number of players who had been due to compete in qualifying but tested positive, or who had been in close contact with a coach who tested positive, have already been barred from playing at Roland Garros.

Paire cited tiredness after retiring during his clash with Casper Ruud while trailing 6-4 2-0, posting on Instagram: "When is it going to end?"

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